56 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



doubtless prevent to a great extent importation of potatoes 

 affected with powdery scab, growers should be alert to detect 

 the trouble in their " seed " tubers, and all suspected cases re- 

 ported to the station. 



The Ehizoctonia disease of potatoes seems to have been quite 

 general throughout the State the last season. The relative im- 

 portance of this disease in the State is not known, but it has 

 not formerly been considered serious. In several other States, 

 notably Colorado, New Jersey and Maine, it is said to cause 

 considerable loss. 



Eire blight of apj)le and pear trees, though prevalent in the 

 State the last summer, was not as virulent as in 1913, aj)- 

 parently responding to natural check. 



The chestnut blight, caused by Endothia paralitica (Murr.) 

 Anderson, has continued to spread throughout the chestnut belt, 

 but sufficient data are not at hand to determine whether the 

 sjDread has been as rapid or the damage as great as in former 

 years. However, it is our opinion, based on limited observation, 

 that this disease has been held somewhat in check by natural 

 causes, possibly climatic conditions, and that the case of the 

 chestnut in Massachusetts is perhaps not so hopeless as it once 

 appeared. 



Diseases of tobacco, aside from mosaic disease, have received 

 scant attention by this station. There have been many requests 

 for help in the control of such diseases. The tobacco crop is an 

 important one in the State, and growers are asking that the 

 station co-operate with them in the investigation of some of the 

 more important troubles with which they have to contend. Such 

 work is under consideration, and it is hoped that it may be 

 undertaken during the coming summer. 



Diseases for the first time on record as occurring in the State 

 are apple cankers, in which the causal organisms were Coryneum 

 foliicoliim Fckl. and Phoma mali S. & S., both of these fungi 

 being found associated in other cankers with the perfect stage of 

 Glomerella rufomaculans (Berk.) Spauld, and von Schrenk; 

 anthracnose of cyclamen, caused by Glomerella rufomaculans. 

 var. cyclaminis P. & C. ; a dry rot of stored potatoes, due to 

 YerticilUum alho-atrum McA. ; silvery scurf of potatoes, caused 



